London Writers' Salon

#175: Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross — Your Brain on Art: Neuroaesthetics, Wellbeing, and Creative Practice, plus Finding Your Voice, Tapping Into Intuition

Episode Summary

Neuroaesthetics researcher Susan Magsamen and Google design leader Ivy Ross on creativity as a biological necessity, intuition, and the aesthetic mindset for a good life.

Episode Notes

Neuroaesthetics researcher Susan Magsamen and Google design leader Ivy Ross on creativity as a biological necessity, intuition, and the aesthetic mindset for a good life.   

You'll learn:

• Habits that Susan and Ivy turn to when they need to re-centre.
• What Susan and Ivy are trying to change in the world with their day jobs. 
• The beginning of Susan and Ivy working together.
• Clear evidence that proved to Susan and Ivy that their work was needed.
• Advice for using your intuition to be more creative.
• How a writer might find their voice.
• Questions to ask yourself if you’re writing a similar book to Your Brain on Art.
• Principles that Susan and Ivy use to help them live a good life. 
• The link between nature and neuroaesthetics.
• The transforming power of journaling.

Resources and Links:

• 📄Interview Transcript
• Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us
• Website
• Neuroarts Resource Center

About Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

Susan Magsamen is the founder and director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she is a faculty member, and she co-directs the NeuroArts Blueprint. Ivy Ross is Vice President of Design for hardware product area at Google, leading an award-winning team, and is also an arts grant recipient and recognised creative leader.